The Creek Tribe had about as many medicine women as men and their knowledge and abilities went far beyond the healing arts.

In the old days, when our medicine people were not doctoring their patients or away on some quest, they would occasionally get together and take some time for themselves, meeting and drinking and kind of letting off steam. I don't know where they got the liquor because in those days it was illegal for Indians to drink but they managed it somehow. They didn't do this all the time, just every now and then as it was one of their ways of staying connected with the earth and humanity.

My mother told me about how they would show off in front of one another while they were drinking. As a child she saw one instance where one of them took a whisky bottle, said a chant, blew on the bottle, physically twisted the glass in his hands and set it down -- it was still glass, but it was as though it became something else in his hands, something which allowed itself to be re-shaped.

Another one took his belt off, blew on it, flung it on the floor and it turned into a live snake. Those are just some of the things they did, kind of like boys showing off to one another -- "I can do this." "That's nothing, watch this."

But they would also have occasion to perform such feats in the normal course of their responsibilities, such as preparing a delegate from the tribe to go to Washington.

You may remember in the old Westerns how the President of the United States was known to the Indian people as the "Great White Father." We could never understand why very few Indians were ever allowed to see the "Great White Father" in person -- the representatives of the Great White Father could talk to the chief of the tribe, but our chief could never confront the head man of the white nation, there always had to be a go between.

Anyway, if a delegate from the tribe was going to Washington to speak on certain issues, the tribe would choose one of our medicine men to fix him up for that trip in medicine ways.

In order to choose which medicine man would attend to the delegate, or perhaps even accompany him to Washington, they would all sit around in a circle, put a feather between them and try out their powers. The one who could fly that feather the highest got the job. When I was a small boy, I saw one instance where one made that feather move, then another made it stand on end. When it came to my mother's uncle, the feather just zipped straight up, several feet in the air, so he was the one designated to help the delegate.

Once the medicine man was chosen he would fix an herb for the delegate to put in his mouth so that when he spoke he would be eloquent and clear in his presentation. And at the same time that medicine would also be fixed in such a way that his words would be heard by his audience as being worthy of consideration.

Sometimes a medicine person would also fix face paint so that the delegate would be noticed out of a crowd of people and be looked upon with respect and favor.

Those are just a few of the things that our medicine people used to do in addition to doctoring people.

Molly Larkin is the co-author, with Bear Heart, of the international best-seller "The Wind Is My Mother; The Life and Teachings of a Native American Shaman." [ http://www.thewindismymother.com ] She blogs about Ancient Wisdom for a Life in Balance at http://www.mollylarkin.com where you can subscribe to her blog and receive a free e-book of inspirational quotes, "What Lies Within You." She is also a licensed trainer for Healing in America, the U.S. affiliate of The Healing Trust, the largest energy healing organization in Europe.

Injuries can affect your life in ways you never imagined. It seems as if even the smallest wound can affect your life in major ways. It is usually at these times when you realize how fragile the human body truly is. You may also start to realize how much you take your ability and flexibly for granted. Instead of running to the store and picking up some pain pills, take a trip to see a sports medicine doctor instead. You may need to do a little research so you can choose your specialist carefully.

Don't spend too much time thinking about how you wish your life could go back to being normal. It is not uncommon for you to have to make adjustments to the way you do things because of an injury. These adjustments can often be an inconvenience. When you take the time to choose the best sports medicine doctor for treatment, you increase the likelihood of you being able to get back to your life to normal.

Don't assume that a quick trip to the nearest emergency room will get the right kind of treatment. When you see a sports medicine doctor, you are making it possible for you to receive better level and quality of care. This physician has more experience in treating conditions like yours and is more likely to listen to your issues and make sure that you are as comfortable as can be. The level of communication between patient and physician plays a very important role in how well a patient is treated. Since you are in the hands of a specialist, you don't have to worry about any miscommunication that could decrease the quality of care or the speed at which you receive the right treatment.

Being treated by a sports medicine doctor means that you will be able to recover much faster. It is much easier for your specialist to coordinate a treatment plan for your condition. If your treatment involves you being evaluated by other professionals, they can arrange it much faster and reduce the amount of time it takes you to get back in the swing of things.

If you happen to need surgery, instead of letting time lapse, which could affect the final outcome of you recovery, you can start your physical therapy sessions as soon as possible. You are closely monitored to ensure that your body is responding appropriately to the treatment that is being administered. Changes and adjustments can be made as necessary and your discomfort can be minimized.

A sports medicine doctor is the best person to see when you injure yourself in a manner that results in you having sprains, strains, and broken joints. Keep in mind that any loss in your ability to move a certain way is an indicator that you should go see a physician to rule out serious injury and get the right treatment.

This November, millions of Americans will vote in what is sure to be one of the landmark elections of our time. With weighty issues like the economy, the disappearing middle class, and LGBT rights being weighed in the Presidential election, other issues are still being played out in the more localized state elections. One of the most interesting local elections will be a proposed bill in Massachusetts to legalize medical marijuana.

After gathering the necessary number of signatures to include the bill in the November elections, the paperwork was filed at the Secretary of State's office on July 3rd.

A vote of "yes" would enact the proposed law eliminating state criminal and civil penalties related to the medical use of marijuana by patients meeting certain conditions. The drug will be produced and distributed by new state-regulated centers. In specific hardship cases, qualified patients will be allowed to grow their own marijuana for personal medical use.

What does this mean for prospective medical marijuana patients in Massachusetts should the bill pass? It means the Bay State will be open to the service of medical marijuana doctors and dispensaries. The bill allows up to 35 dispensaries throughout Massachusetts, capping at 5 per county. Marijuana will be grown and distributed by the state-regulated centers.

Presumptively, the dispensaries would follow a similar format to California's medical marijuana card system, where approval cards have been written into law since the Statewide Medical Cannabis ID Card Program of 2003. Especially in San Francisco, marijuana cards have seen widespread success is regulation, with over 20,000 cards issued.

However, this in no way means that anyone can get a card and walk into a dispensary for recreational drugs. A card is only issued after a written prescription given by a medical marijuana doctor and in most states can only be issued on the grounds of certain debilitating illnesses. Conditions that will be allowed under the proposed law in Massachusetts include Parkinson's, cancer, and other illness where marijuana can improve pain management, increase appetite, and have numerous other health benefits.

This vote comes off the heels of a recent decision by the Chicago City Council to decriminalize marijuana possession by reducing the punishment for carrying small amounts from an arrest worthy offense to a fine of between $250 and $500.

Massachusetts had the benefit of learning from 17 other states and the District of Columbia. The hallmark of this initiative is state regulation. Their proposal is in line with current standards in practice within the other states.

By submitting this issue to a vote, Massachusetts has joined the likes of 5 other states with currently pending medical marijuana legislation. This list includes New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, and Missouri.

The path to becoming a licensed doctor in the Unites States takes at least 8 years to finish. After this time individuals undergo specialty training to focus on certain areas such as pediatrics, internal medicine, or surgery. Internal medicine deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease in adults. Throughout the years, it has gained popularity and more students of medicine are aiming to eventually be qualified for internal medicine jobs.

Scope of Internal Medicine

A doctor with this degree is called a general internist. He may be a general practitioner or he can opt to develop his expertise further by sub-specializing in specific diseases that affect certain organs of the body. Some of these are in the fields of cardiology (heart), nephrology (kidney), hematology (blood), and infectious diseases. Aside from becoming practicing physicians, internal medicine jobs can also include involvement in areas of research and academia.

Job Description

The job of an internist covers the following: diagnosis of disease through proper physical examinations and laboratory tests, treatment of the diseases and injuries, prevention of disease through regular preventative care, and maintenance of care to the road of recovery.

Since internal medicine jobs also include a role in teaching, you can see a number of doctors who hold a class or two in universities. This is especially true of those who are practicing in a university hospital. Their expertise will help hone the skills of a new generation of doctors.

There are also a growing number of internal medicine specialists focusing in the field of research. As new diseases are discovered, the drive to invent a cure for these is also rising with adequate sponsorship from the public and private sectors. You have seen new breeds of viruses that have created havoc in communities and caused deaths, and researches are pressured to come up with a cure in the least amount of time possible. This makes their role very vital, both in the discovery of new cures and prevention of an epidemic.

High Paying Job

Internal medicine jobs are sought after because of their high demand and the good salary that comes with the profession. As seen throughout the history of the United States, people from the previous decades had a different perspective and situations from today. It was either they were really healthy and did not need the care, or they had a skeptical attitude towards medicine and illnesses and thus stayed away from doctors. Today, more and more people are becoming conscious of their health and go to great measures to prevent acquiring any diseases. At the same time, a large part of the population is suffering from illnesses brought about by current lifestyles, vices, pollution, and eating habits. Both of these have caused the high demand for the care of general internists, which subsequently increased their pay. Comparing the median compensation of internists in 1999 and 2012, the figure rose from $145,397 to $188,343. Those that have a subspecialty are getting more than this.

Maternal fetal medicine specialists are also referred to as high risk obstetricians or perinatologists. These are medical professionals who specialize in dealing with complicated pregnancies. Although there are many reasons why a pregnant woman may be referred to a high risk obstetrician, the main conditions are grouped into four categories which include previous high-risk pregnancy, poor mother health (pregnancy induced condition or a pre-existing condition), high risk fetus health (e.g. trisomy) or a combination of any of the above conditions. Maternal fetal medicine jobs require trainees to undergo rigorous training which is then followed by certification and licensure.

Training for Maternal Fetal Medicine Jobs

If you have a dream to pursue this line of career, you should start making preparations as early as high school. Good grades in mathematics and sciences will be very crucial as you prepare for this career. After passing high school, you will be accepted in a college or a university. At this level, you should pursue a related science course such as premed or its equivalent. The courses you take at this level will lead you to medical school. Before you are accepted in any medical school, you will be required to pass Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).

Attaining a good score on the MCAT will increase your chances of being accepted to a medical school. It is important for you to note that the competition to get into medical schools is very stiff and therefore you should give your best while taking the MCAT. At medical school, you should take a program in obstetrics and gynecology. The program will run for four or five years depending on the program. Upon completion of the program, you will be awarded a Medical degree (MD) or a Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) degree. The Medical degree is usually followed by residency in either gynecology or obstetrics.

Certification for Maternal Fetal Medicine Jobs

After completing the degree and residency programs, you should apply for certification in your state. Remember that you will only be certified after passing an oral and written examination which is administered by ABOG (American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology). After certification, you should complete a three years' fellowship program in maternal fetal medicine after which you will seek the ABOG certification in the sub-specialty maternal fetal medicine.

Job Description of a Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist

A maternal fetal medicine specialist will diagnose and treat high-risk pregnancies to ensure the safety of both the mother and the fetus. He or she will also determine the most appropriate method for child delivery.

With the ever-increasing population, the likelihood that the demand for maternal fatal medicine specialists will increase is great. The title and salary of these specialists will be determined by the academic qualifications as well as by number of years of experience. Maternal fetal medicine jobs are found in hospitals, private clinics, research institutions, and so on. Depending on the region and position of the specialist, the salaries will vary. However, the median salary is around $373,129. Once you have become a perinatologist, it is always advisable to ensure that you keep your licensure and certification up to date.

The history of medicine and healthcare is a long one with many different backgrounds from all over the world. Once upon a time, for example, western medicine was based on the humor system, where people believed one's health and personality makeup were determined by four liquids (or humors) in the body and the proper balance between them. These were black bile, yellow bile, blood, and phlegm. In the Far East, herbal medicines and special massage therapies date back thousands of years and are still practiced today.

One might think that most forms of alternative and complimentary medicines are not taught in regular healthcare colleges, but this is not necessarily so. The debate between scientific healthcare and alternative healthcare should not be considered as directly opposing each other, but rather these different systems can be used simultaneously to promote a better healthy lifestyle. Perhaps this is less often believed to be the case in smaller, more traditional communities. But in major metropolises like Toronto, where many different cultures live side-by-side and exchange practices and beliefs, we are seeing regular medicine and alternative medicine taught and practiced together.

Two of the major areas of alternative and complimentary medicine and healthcare practices are acupuncture and chiropractic treatments. Healthcare school for either of these fields can give the student an advantage in landing a career in one of Toronto's many clinics.

Acupuncture

This ancient Chinese method works by stimulating sources of energy inside the body by inserting needles into specific areas below the skin's surface. It can be used to relieve pain, stress, help with sleeplessness or even infertility. The Canadian Contemporary Acupuncture Association is located in Toronto and helps coordinate professionals and practitioners in this field. It is a valuable resource for Torontonians but also contributes to acupuncture awareness for the rest of Canada and internationally. Some of Toronto's top acupuncturists include:

- Rock Solid Health

- Sage Health and Wellness Clinic

- Roncesvalles Community Acupuncture Clinic

- Imperial Health Spa Clinic

Chiropractic

This is a complimentary healthcare profession that deals with problems and pains in the back, spine and muscular-skeletal system. It uses methods like massaging, spinal adjustment, joint-cracking, and even heat and ice therapy. The Canadian Chiropractic Association and the Ontario Chiropractic Association, which represent individuals in the chiropractic profession, are also both headquartered in Toronto. Some of Toronto's top chiropractors include:

- Dr. Robert Evans, voted best chiropractor in Toronto by the Consumers Choice Institute

- The [Clinic]

- The Well Adjusted Chiropractic Centre

- Infinity Health Centre

Healthcare training in Toronto can be the first step to learning about career opportunities in alternative and complimentary medicines and treatments. Having a mixed background between formal healthcare and alternative healthcare really gives the professional a more rounded experience to best help people get the right kind of attention from the largest resources of treatments. In a multi-cultured environment such as Toronto, it is no surprise that these different forms of medical treatments co-exist side-by-side.

Visit the Academy of Learning Toronto to find out about healthcare college.

Michael Zunenshine is a Copywriter at Higher Education Marketing, a leading Web marketing firm specializing in Google Analytics, Education Lead Generation, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Mobile SMS Alerts, Social Media Marketing and Pay Per Click Marketing, among other Web marketing services and tools.

Functional and integrative medicine are current methods of care used today by medical professionals. To understand how they work, what role they play, and their differences, it's important to first learn how and why they're used in the chain of modern medicine.

The most common method of treatment and medicine is what we know today as Conventional Western Medicine. Conventional medicine is the basic process of elimination in diagnosing and treating illnesses, diseases, and other health-related issues. When you go to the doctor with multiple symptoms, they will ask you many questions. Some questions seem relevant, other questions seem far-fetched in having to do with your symptoms; however, they are all, in fact, relative. Using medical logic, and the process of elimination with your symptoms, a diagnosis is made and treated.

On the other end of the medical spectrum, we have Alternative Medicine. Alternative medicine uses a strict philosophy of natural healing and therapeutic methods to treat illnesses, diseases, and other health-related issues. Thus, alternative medicine is the alternative to conventional medicine. In alternative medicine, patients are treated with methods such as:

• Chiropracty - A physical therapy method for patients that have joint and general mobility issues.• Aromatherapy - A plant oil method used to treat issues such as stress and depression.• Herbal Treatment from Different Cultures - Herbs from around the world, most prevalent in China, used to treat and cure various illnesses of all types.• Acupuncture - A physical puncture method of treatment which targets unbalance within the body.• Ayurvedic - A body detox treatment that includes a strict diet and exercise regime to help overall health.

In recent years, physicians have theorized that the use of both conventional and alternative medicine could assist patients in a more effective way of diagnosis, treatment, and health. This combination of medicinal methods is Integrative Medicine.

Integrative medicine can use any combination of the following modern medicinal methods depending on the patient's diagnosis, and personal needs and/or beliefs:

• Western - Conventional method of diagnosis and treatment.• Holistic - A method that treats all aspects of the patient's health, including physical, mental, emotional, economic, and social aspects.• Osteopathic - A method similar to conventional medicine that differs in the fact that it targets all possible health issues that a patient experienced from their date of birth on.• Allopathic - Uses the conventional medicinal method as a basis for diagnosis, but focuses on the use of prescription drugs to treat and cure illnesses.• Regenerative - A method that incorporates the creation of new tissues and organs in order to repair damaged tissues and organs.• Functional - A method that focuses on the physical and emotional needs of a patient in order to determine the best results.• Naturopathic - A medicinal method that strictly uses natural remedies to treat various health issues of patients.

So where does functional medicine come into play? Functional medicine, as earlier defined, is a medicinal method in which the patient is diagnosed and treated as a whole. The patient's symptoms are not the only thing used to diagnose and treat the illness. Practitioners of functional medicine believe that in order to provide the best treatment, every aspect of the patient's life must be considered. This includes their genetics, living environment, physical traits, lifestyle, and health history. Thus, this method is very individualized.

As stated earlier, one end of the medical spectrum is conventional medicine, and the other is alternative medicine. Integrative medicine is found between the two, combining them both to create the most effective diagnosis and treatment plan for the patient. Functional medicine is one of the methods used for integrative means. Functional medicine is unique and difficult to categorize, since it is a combination of both conventional and alternative medicine itself.

More physicians believe that functional medicine is the best method today. It's argued that conventional methods do not target a patient as a whole; that other physicians are only temporarily treating a health issue. Functional medicine is used to permanently treat all issues, ensuring an overall healthy body and lifestyle.

Doctors that practice functional medicine use a list of personalized steps in order to diagnose and treat illnesses. Generally, these steps include:

• Learning the lifestyle and health history of the patient.• Observing weakness found within the body's tissues and organs.• Combining all considerations to learn what's ailing the body.• Creating a personal diagnosis.• Determining the best therapeutic and medical treatments for that diagnosis.• Evaluating the patient's health progress during treatment.• Observing and evaluating the effectiveness of treatment that patient is receiving in order to determine if new forms of treatment should be used.• After observing the patient's progress from treatment, assessing and determining what happen to the patient's body to create the original illness.• Observing the patient after treatment.• Determining how the patient's body heals as a whole after completion of diagnosis and treatment.

Functional medicine incorporates a lot of effort in terms of patient care and personal observation. Treatments used within this method vary drastically. Functional medicine will include any form of treatment, be it conventional or alternative. The treatment is based on all aspects of the patient's body, health, and lifestyle, so any sort of treatment can be expected, depending on the patient's beliefs and acceptance.

In conclusion, there isn't a difference between integrative and functional medicine, because functional medicine is a method used in integrative medicine. Integrative is a term used to describe the combination and addition of extra forms of medicinal methods in order to ensure the best patient care. Functional is a term used to describe the personalized method of medicine. Of course, there are patients who only use functional medicine, and no other methods. To these patients, functional medicine is not integrative, but the only form of medicine they choose to receive and believe in. Some physicians use all forms and methods of medicine to determine the best patient care, while other physicians strictly practice one medicinal method. All methods of medicine have proven to be effective depending on the patient and illness.

If you are looking for a new job in family medicine than you are in the right place for advice and tips on how to accomplish the job search process and quickly be on your feet and in a new rewarding position. If you are starting to do a family medicine job search it can sometimes be overwhelming when you see so many locations, facilities and salary levels. It can be a tough decision to make just which ones to apply for let alone interview for and select.

We highly recommend you find a physician recruiter that has many years of expertise that can help you make the right decision. They usually have valuable resources and contact information that will quickly get you up and running. To specific high level recruitment firms your career is more than a piece of paper.

They will help you find the right job by helping you through a series of questions to ask yourself such as:

How is the education in the area?

How do they rate?

What are the prices of the homes in the area?

What kinds of family friendly sites are their to visit?

What types of other recreational activities are there available?

Of course these questions are focused on the specific area that you might live in if you move to the particular job opportunity. These next series of questions would be specific to the actual family medicine practice.

What is the structure of the facility?

Does the job meet your compensation and benefits goals?

What is the experience level of the nurses on other personnel on staff?

Is there more than one office location?

How many exam rooms are available?

These are all good questions to ask yourself and figure out what the right fit is for you. If you are unsure of your decision currently a physician recruiter will help you narrow down your thoughts and help you find the best family medicine job.

Some advanced family medicine job recruiters also offer jobs in many areas of physician staffing such as:

emergency medicine jobs

internal medicine jobs

urgent care jobs

hospitalist jobs

If you are unsatisfied with the search results you are receiving through a physician recruiter or on your own many websites offer the ability to sign up for job alerts that match your very own search criteria.

Another option that many physician recruiters supply is the ability to submit your physician cv. This way you are allowing potential employers to contact you first. This time you will be the one that accepts or declines a request. Whatever you do just know that there is a family medicine job available to you in many ways and be sure to research your options. Good luck in your journey.

If you like this article and are curious on where to go next then please go to kpsphysicianstaffing.com/family-medicine-physician-jobs.html. KPS Phsycian Staffing offers a great selection of family medicine jobs as well as provide great support and expertise in the job search process.